City people... when is enough enough re: crime

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What neighborhood are you in, OP?

Capitol Hill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You leave and don’t look back. DC government has demonstrated it doesn’t care. It would take significant changes for things to change. Maybe in 20 years. There are too many other places to live where you don’t have to worry about this amount of crime.

Not OP but the problem for me is that I don't agree this is true. Everything is a trade off. Sure, I can move somewhere with a lot less crime, but add an hour to my commute daily and lose the same sense of community I have where I am. I like that I can walk/bike most places now -- easy incidental exercise, better for the environment, better for my mental health. Losing that isn't a small thing to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in the city and our kids attend solid schools (one DCPS and one charter). We love our neighborhood, our friends and our life here. But we are increasingly uncomfortable with the level of unchecked crime happening in the city and the hopelessness we feel about things getting better.

I know things have been a lot worse in the city in the past. But each year, we seem to be going further backwards. Neighborhood stores are closing because they can't operate with this level of crime. There are shootings and car jackings in our neighborhood, where that was unheard of before. I drive by cars everyday up on blocks because the wheels were stolen. And I have a constant feeling of "wtf" because Bowser and the Council seem to either not care or not have a realistic plan to fix it.

When is it time to call it quits?

People with options leave. Next time the headhunter calls they do the interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You leave and don’t look back. DC government has demonstrated it doesn’t care. It would take significant changes for things to change. Maybe in 20 years. There are too many other places to live where you don’t have to worry about this amount of crime.

Not OP but the problem for me is that I don't agree this is true. Everything is a trade off. Sure, I can move somewhere with a lot less crime, but add an hour to my commute daily and lose the same sense of community I have where I am. I like that I can walk/bike most places now -- easy incidental exercise, better for the environment, better for my mental health. Losing that isn't a small thing to me.

There are townships with their own school pyramid and police force. They don’t have this problem at all. Even when in or near urban areas with crime and delinquency in the schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two children were hit by stray bullets in DC in last 24hrs in separate incidents.

One riding in a car in NE. One sleeping in bed in SE.

At 2am.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re almost there. Our tipping point might just be replacing our old beater car. Our biggest consideration for brand, model and year isn’t comfort, reliability or safety but the likelihood of theft and vandalism. It’s sad.

Def don’t get a Honda.
Highest theft rate in the world here in wash dC. For parts and whole car. Easy to steal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two children were hit by stray bullets in DC in last 24hrs in separate incidents.

One riding in a car in NE. One sleeping in bed in SE.

At 2am.

So that makes it okay?

Do you even hear yourself??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Things like stealing tires would never get me to call it quits. I also wouldn't be so quick to assume that neighborhood stores closing was due to crime (even if they said it was). Most small businesses fail, unfortunately. And shopping/eating patterns have changed so much with the pandemic.

So for me - it would be the shootings and carjackings and other violent crimes. And it'd need to be a lot more than a couple. Might be worth it to also review the actual crime stats for your neighborhood. I do feel as I age that I notice/hear about a lot more crime than I did when I was younger, but that doesn't always mean there actually IS more crime.

I dunno, I love city life. It would take a lot for me to leave.

They steal *wheels* not tires. Depending on vehicle, they cost many thousands of dollars to replace.

Crime stats are unreliable due to structural incentives to under-report. Certain crimes are absolutely up - and up in expensive, formerly "buffered" neighborhoods...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’re almost there. Our tipping point might just be replacing our old beater car. Our biggest consideration for brand, model and year isn’t comfort, reliability or safety but the likelihood of theft and vandalism. It’s sad.

Def don’t get a Honda.
Highest theft rate in the world here in wash dC. For parts and whole car. Easy to steal.

I thought the Korean brands were the popular cars to steal these days. Smash and grabs seem to have no preference based on what I read on my neighbourhood listserv. The thieves just pick a block and smash the windows on all of the lucky cars that happen to be parked there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two children were hit by stray bullets in DC in last 24hrs in separate incidents.

One riding in a car in NE. One sleeping in bed in SE.

At 2am.

The girl was struck in the car at 9pm. The girl ASLEEP in her bed was struck at 4am. But hold onto whatever magical thinking allows you to not care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You leave and don’t look back. DC government has demonstrated it doesn’t care. It would take significant changes for things to change. Maybe in 20 years. There are too many other places to live where you don’t have to worry about this amount of crime.

Not OP but the problem for me is that I don't agree this is true. Everything is a trade off. Sure, I can move somewhere with a lot less crime, but add an hour to my commute daily and lose the same sense of community I have where I am. I like that I can walk/bike most places now -- easy incidental exercise, better for the environment, better for my mental health. Losing that isn't a small thing to me.

Its not all or nothing. Its not either Cap Hill/somewhere in DC proper or a suburban hellscape. There are places that you can still run errands on a bike, know your neighbors and feel safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You leave and don’t look back. DC government has demonstrated it doesn’t care. It would take significant changes for things to change. Maybe in 20 years. There are too many other places to live where you don’t have to worry about this amount of crime.

Not OP but the problem for me is that I don't agree this is true. Everything is a trade off. Sure, I can move somewhere with a lot less crime, but add an hour to my commute daily and lose the same sense of community I have where I am. I like that I can walk/bike most places now -- easy incidental exercise, better for the environment, better for my mental health. Losing that isn't a small thing to me.

Its not all or nothing. Its not either Cap Hill/somewhere in DC proper or a suburban hellscape. There are places that you can still run errands on a bike, know your neighbors and feel safe.

Where?

It seems like the walkable places are seeing a concerning increase in crime as well, e.g. Silver Spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You leave and don’t look back. DC government has demonstrated it doesn’t care. It would take significant changes for things to change. Maybe in 20 years. There are too many other places to live where you don’t have to worry about this amount of crime.

Not OP but the problem for me is that I don't agree this is true. Everything is a trade off. Sure, I can move somewhere with a lot less crime, but add an hour to my commute daily and lose the same sense of community I have where I am. I like that I can walk/bike most places now -- easy incidental exercise, better for the environment, better for my mental health. Losing that isn't a small thing to me.

There are townships with their own school pyramid and police force. They don’t have this problem at all. Even when in or near urban areas with crime and delinquency in the schools.

Which are extremely segregated, have super high taxes are in boring, insular areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You leave and don’t look back. DC government has demonstrated it doesn’t care. It would take significant changes for things to change. Maybe in 20 years. There are too many other places to live where you don’t have to worry about this amount of crime.

Not OP but the problem for me is that I don't agree this is true. Everything is a trade off. Sure, I can move somewhere with a lot less crime, but add an hour to my commute daily and lose the same sense of community I have where I am. I like that I can walk/bike most places now -- easy incidental exercise, better for the environment, better for my mental health. Losing that isn't a small thing to me.

There are townships with their own school pyramid and police force. They don’t have this problem at all. Even when in or near urban areas with crime and delinquency in the schools.

Which are extremely segregated, have super high taxes are in boring, insular areas.

I'll take boring and insular over having to fear that my five-year-old son will be hit by a stray bullet. I'll also take boring and insular over living in a city that is ruled by roving bands of teens wearing balaclavas. Nothing else matters if you don't feel safe when you leave your house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You leave and don’t look back. DC government has demonstrated it doesn’t care. It would take significant changes for things to change. Maybe in 20 years. There are too many other places to live where you don’t have to worry about this amount of crime.

Not OP but the problem for me is that I don't agree this is true. Everything is a trade off. Sure, I can move somewhere with a lot less crime, but add an hour to my commute daily and lose the same sense of community I have where I am. I like that I can walk/bike most places now -- easy incidental exercise, better for the environment, better for my mental health. Losing that isn't a small thing to me.

Its not all or nothing. Its not either Cap Hill/somewhere in DC proper or a suburban hellscape. There are places that you can still run errands on a bike, know your neighbors and feel safe.

+10000. I live in a small town and can ride my bike many places. My oldest rides his bike to school. We can walk to restaurants. OP seems to not understand there’s a lot about his current lifestyle that you can find elsewhere. I’ll give him the commuting but I’d be commuting 5 days a week now?